Surely any man hath clean hands who slays his enemies. Pythian Priestess Do not thou do this; but take the counsel that I have for thee. Ion Say on; whate’er thou say’st will be prompted by thy good will. Pythian Priestess Dost see this basket that I carry in my arms? Ion An ancient ark with chaplets crowned. Pythian Priestess Herein I found thee long ago, a newborn babe. Ion What sayest thou? there is novelty in the story thou art introducing. Pythian Priestess Yea, for I was keeping these relics a secret, but now I show them. Ion How earnest thou to hide them on that day, now long ago, when thou didst find me? Pythian Priestess The god wished to have thee as his servant in his courts. Ion Does he no longer wish it? How am I to know this? Pythian Priestess By declaring to thee thy sire, he dismisses thee from this land. Ion Is it by his command thou keepest these relics, or why? Pythian Priestess Loxias put in my heart that day— Ion What purpose? Oh! speak, finish thy story. Pythian Priestess To preserve what I had found until the present time. Ion What weal or woe doth this import to me? Pythian Priestess Herein were laid the swaddling-clothes in which thou wert enwrapped. Ion These relics thou art producing may help me to find my mother. Pythian Priestess Yes, for now the deity so wills it, though not before. Ion Hail! thou day of visions blest to me! Pythian Priestess Take then the relics and seek thy mother diligently.